Warriors pumped ahead of historic UFC 300 in Vegas
Max Holloway promised violence, Zhang Weili reminisced about disfigurement and Alex Pereira … well, he spoke only of vengeance while decked out in his now signature warpaint and headdress.
As it has been all week in Las Vegas, the message from the ceremonial weigh-ins were all about the impending chaos set to be unveiled at UFC 300.
Hawaiian great Holloway is challenging reigning BMF champ Justin Gaethje on Sunday (NT time).
Asked by UFC compere Joe Rogan to describe what was coming, “Blessed” replied: “One word guys, violence. Just violence. Tune in tomorrow baby.” At which point the crowd went nuts.
And as for Gaethje? Asked about what this fight meant, and his push towards also winning the UFC lightweight crown, he said: “This is everything. Without a win, I don’t get that shot.
“Best live show on Earth tomorrow night, I guarantee it.”
In the main event, UFC light heavyweight champion Pereira also promised to put a beating on brash American challenger Jamahal Hill.
So intense was the face-off between the pair, UFC boss Dana White had to step in and keep them separated as Hill moved forward, shook his head at the champ, then nodded before repeatedly mouthing “I’m back”. The challenger has had plenty to say about the Brazilian superstar, including the fact he plans to knock him out.
Speaking through the aid of an interpreter after weighing in, Pereira said: “I’m very pumped for it.”
Hill was stripped of the title after suffering an achilles injury. He told Rogan as sections of the crowd booed: “This is everything to me.
“No matter how much y’all boo, or how ya’ll feel, what I almost lost, what could’ve happened to me, what I did lose, it put a fire in me. It definitely put a fire in me. Regardless, I’m going to leave it all in there.”
Fighting in the other championship bout on a stacked card, UFC women’s strawweight queen Zhang Weili reminded the crowd how in this same town four years ago, she defended the belt against Joanna Jedrzejczyk in one of the greatest fights in UFC history.
Apart from taking the unforgettable UFC 248 contest via split decision, Weili would also leave her rival grossly disfigured courtesy of a huge haematoma.
On Sunday, she looks to defend again against fellow Chinese fighter Yan Xiaonan.